"the Spirit of Michigan...is based on a deathless loyalty to Michigan and all her ways....and a conviction that nowhere is there a better university, in any way, than this Michigan of ours" - Fielding Yost

"the Spirit of Michigan...is based on a deathless loyalty to Michigan and all her ways....and a conviction that nowhere is there a better university, in any way, than this Michigan of ours" - Fielding Yost

"the Spirit of Michigan...is based on a deathless loyalty to Michigan and all her ways....and a conviction that nowhere is there a better university, in any way, than this Michigan of ours" - Fielding Yost

"the Spirit of Michigan...is based on a deathless loyalty to Michigan and all her ways....and a conviction that nowhere is there a better university, in any way, than this Michigan of ours" - Fielding Yost

Benoit is dealing tonight (just picked off cruz stealing 2nd to end the inning) and we still have Valverde in the bullpen. The Tigs offense is going to blow up in either the bot 9th or 10th to end the game.

"the Spirit of Michigan...is based on a deathless loyalty to Michigan and all her ways....and a conviction that nowhere is there a better university, in any way, than this Michigan of ours" - Fielding Yost

After crashing his motorcyle in Chicago -- while having a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit -- Bob Probert told the arresting police officers, "Just charge me with the usual." Such a bad-ass.

After crashing his motorcyle in Chicago -- while having a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit -- Bob Probert told the arresting police officers, "Just charge me with the usual." Such a bad-ass.

The pick-off sequence is a loser move. Just is. Then Jackson getting caught stealing with Cabrera coming up was ridiculous. Why do you want to steal a base so badly there again? So that you're going even though you've gotten a ridiculously poor jump? Do we have that much confidence in Raburn?!

I don't want to risk not getting the best hitter in baseball (or one of) up in that situation so I have a chance to have Ryan Raburn at the plate with RISP. Sorry.

You have to know your team and Jackson just got an awful jump in a clutch situation. Even if he steals the base and Raburn gets out, as he's likely to do, you've again negated Cabrera because there's a base open. Just don't love that call.

Tigers would have won already if Justin pitched, based purely on past performance and record likely he would have given up only 2 runs. But Leyland wouldn't risk "getting him hurt" in order to pitch him on three days rest tonight--even though pitchers have done that for 100 years, and there is zero proof that 4 days rest, which only became standard for pitchers roughly 20 years ago, has resulted in either 1- fewer injuries, or 2- improved performance. And Justin was eager to pitch. Pity.

"We can't overestimate the value of computers: yes they are great for playing games and forwarding funny emails, but real business is done on paper. Write that down."

The Morning show guys on 97.1 looked up the stats, and in the postseason guys on 3-days rest have like an ERA over 5.0 and have won like 8 of like 30 games. So even if Verlander pitched well that's one game. There's still Games 5, 6, and 7 that Porcello, Scherzer, and Fister have to win. It won't even be them having to win it so much as our hitting still has to step up

There is no long term evidence that guys on three days rest either 1, are more prone to injury, or 2, are less effective. It's not true. I do agree that lack of clutch hitting and injuries are a huge issue, but I would have much rather taken my chance, a good chance in fact, of Verlander giving up say 1 run over 8 or 9 innings and not even needing more hitting tonight.

"We can't overestimate the value of computers: yes they are great for playing games and forwarding funny emails, but real business is done on paper. Write that down."

We're playing with our 5th and 6th best outfielders. Our DH is clearly hurt and gutting it out. Avila is worn out. When Delmon's in the game he's still obviously struggling. It sucks, but that's what happened.

Hopefully we can take the Maggs and Penny money and go get one more big bat, hopefully a Reyes or Rollins (if the Phils don't resign him). If Illitch wants to win a World Series, next year is the chance. We've got the best pitching staff in the AL. Porcello's only going to get better.

1: Why did Cabrera try to go home? He doesn't have the speed that a guy like Jackson has, and the ball wasn't hit way deep right field
2: Why have Jackson steal? I understand we want him in scoring position for if Miggy comes up, but I think you have to trust Miggy and V-Mart together to drive 1 run in
3: Why pitch Valverde? I know he started off well, but in non-save situations he's absolutely god awful horrible
4: The big one, why walk Beltre? Not only does that put you up against a more dangerous batter, but it also guarantees Cruz a shot at bat. Beltre had no hits in the game, a bum knee, and would probably be an out